STAT OF THE NIGHT

Los Angeles Kings: only the 4th team EVER to win a series after being down 3-0

Hockey and basketball schedules 04/30/2014

Hockey game 7s: http://thewhole9yds.blogspot.com/2014/04/wednesday-night-rivalries-game-7.html

NBA Playoffs Day 12
Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs Game 5 (7 ET, TNT)
Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors Game 5 (7:30 ET, NBAt)
Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets Game 5 (9:30 ET, TNT)

Wednesday Night Rivalries: Game 7!!!!

Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers (7 ET, NBC Sports Network)

Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche (9:30 ET, CNBC)

Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks (10 ET, NBC Sports Network)

GAME OF THE WEEK: Week 17, 2014

Real Madrid(1) at Bayern Munich(0) (2:45 ET, Fox Sports 1)

These are the two best sides in the world, and it is unfortunate they had to be drawn in the same semifinal. In the first leg, Real won 1-0, so as long as today's match is a draw or another Real win, Real will advance to the Champions League Final on the 24th of May. If Bayern wins by 1, then unless it's 1-0 again, Bayern, probably the best side in the world, will advance.

Cricket, hockey, basketball schedules 04/29/2014

Indian Premier League Day 14
Match 19: Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Rajasthan Royals (10:30 AM ET)

Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 14
New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers Game 6 (7:30 ET, NBC Sports Network)

NBA Playoffs Day 11
Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls Game 5 (8 ET, TNT)
Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder pivotal Game 5 (9 ET, NBAt)
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers pivotal Game 5 (10:30 ET, TNT)

Basketball and hockey schedules 04/28/2014

NBA Playoffs Day 10
Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 13
Miami Heat at Charlotte Bobcats Game 4 (7 ET, TNT)
Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets Game 6 (7 ET, NBC Sports Network)
Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers Game 5 (8 ET, NBAt)
Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild Game 6 (9 ET, CNBC)
San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks Game 4 (9:30 ET, TNT)
San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings Game 6 (10 ET, NBC Sports Network)

ESPN's NBA Sunday Showcase on ABC!

Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 12 TV Schedule
NBA Playoffs Day 9 TV Schedule
Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers Game 5 (noon ET, NBC)
Chicago Bulls at Washington Wizards Game 4 (1 ET, ABC, ESPN3)
St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks Game 6 (3 ET, NBC)
Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors Game 4 (3:30 ET, ABC, ESPN3)
Toronto Raptors at Brooklyn Nets Game 4 (7 ET, TNT)
Anaheim Ducks at Dallas Stars Game 6 (8 ET, NBC Sports Network)
Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers Game 4 (9:30 ET, TNT)

Cricket, basketball, hockey schedules 04/26/2014

Indian Premier League Day 11
Match 14: Rajasthan Royals vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore (6:30 AM ET)
Match 15: Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Kings XI Punjab (10:30 AM ET)

NBA Playoffs Day 8
Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 11
Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks Game 4 (2 ET, TNT)
Detroit Red Wings at Boston Bruins Game 5 (3 ET, NBC)
San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks Game 3 (4:30 ET, TNT)
Miami Heat at Charlotte Bobcats Game 3 (7 ET, ESPN, ESPN3)
Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins Game 5 (7 ET, NBC Sports Network)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies Game 4 (9:30 ET, ESPN, ESPN3)
Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche Game 5 (9:30 ET, NBC Sports Network)
Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks Game 5 (10 ET, CNBC)

Basketball and hockey schedules 04/25/2014

Toronto Raptors at Brooklyn Nets Game 3 (7 ET, ESPN2, ESPN3)
New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers Game 4 (7 ET, CNBC)
Chicago Bulls at Washington Wizards Game 3 (8 ET, ESPN, ESPN3)
Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues Game 5 (8 ET, NBC Sports Network)
Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers Game 3 (10:30 ET, ESPN, ESPN3)
Dallas Stars at Anaheim Ducks Game 5 (10:30 ET, NBC Sports Network)

Cricket, basketball, hockey schedules 04/24/2014

Indian Premier League Day 9
Match 11: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (10:30 AM ET)

NBA Playoffs Day 6
Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 9
Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks Game 3 (7 ET, NBAt)

Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies Game 3 (8 ET, TNT)
Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings Game 4 (8 ET, NBC Sports Network)
Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild Game 4 (9:30 ET, CNBC)
Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors Game 3 (10:30 ET, TNT)
San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings Game 4 (10:30 ET, NBC Sports Network)

STAT OF THE NIGHT

In all four games of the Penguins/Jackets series, the team that has led 3-1 has lost 4-3.

Wednesday Night Rivalry!

NBA Playoffs Day 5 TV Schedule

Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 8 TV Schedule

Charlotte Bobcats at Miami Heat Game 2 (7 ET, TNT)

Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets Game 4 (7 ET, NBC Sports Network)

Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs Game 2 (8 ET, NBAt)

Anaheim Ducks at Dallas Stars Game 4 (8 ET, CNBC)

Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets Game 2 (9:30 ET, TNT)

St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks Game 4 (9:30 ET, NBC Sports Network)

Basketball and hockey schedules 04/22/2014

NBA Playoffs Day 4
Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 7
Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers Game 2 (7 ET, TNT)
Tampa Bay Lightning at Montréal Canadiens Game 4 (7 ET, NHL Network)
Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors Game 2 (7:30 ET, NBAt)
Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings Game 3 (7:30 ET, NBC Sports Network)
New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers Game 3 (8 ET, CNBC)
Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls Game 2 (9:30 ET, TNT)
San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings Game 3 (10 ET, NBC Sports Network)

Cricket, hockey, basketball schedules 04/21/2014

Indian Premier League Day 6
Match 8: Chennai Super Kings vs. Delhi Daredevils (10:30 AM ET)

Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 6
NBA Playoffs Day 3
Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets Game 3 (7 ET, NBC Sports Network)
Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild Game 3 (7 ET, NHL Network)
Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder Game 2 (8 ET, TNT)
St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks Game 3 (8:30 ET, CNBC)
Anaheim Ducks at Dallas Stars Game 3 (9:30 ET, NBC Sports Network)
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers Game 2 (10:30 ET, TNT)

STAT OF THE NIGHT

For the first time ever tonight, the Columbus Blue Jackets won a playoff game!

ESPN's NBA Sunday Showcase on ABC!

Indian Premier League Day 5 Schedule
Match 7: Rajasthan Royals vs. Kings XI Punjab (10:30 AM ET)

Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 5 TV Schedule
NBA Playoffs Day 2 TV Schedule
Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers Game 2 (noon ET, NBC)
Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs Game 1 (1 ET, TNT)
Detroit Red Wings at Boston Bruins Game 2 (3 ET, NBC)
Charlotte Bobcats at Miami Heat Game 1 (3:30 ET, ABC, ESPN3)
Tampa Bay Lightning at Montréal Canadiens Game 3 (7 ET, NBC Sports Network)
Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls Game 1 (7 ET, TNT)
Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets Game 1 (9:30 ET, TNT)
Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks Game 2 (10 ET, NBC Sports Network)

GAME OF THE WEEK: Week 16, 2014

Monte Carlo Masters Final: Wawrinka/Federer (9 AM ET, ESPN3)

Wawrinka starts clay court season off with a bang, perhaps looking forward to the end of this season, when he will have a chance to add to his recently begun major title collection. On the other side of the court, Federer, who normally does not play this event, has suddenly wild-carded his way to a 4 seed and all the way to this all-Swiss final. Could he win the title in his first-ever final here at Monte Carlo?

Cricket, tennis, basketball, hockey schedules 04/19/2014

Indian Premier League Day 4
Monte Carlo Masters Day 7
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Mumbai Indians (6:30 AM ET)
First Semifinal: Ferrer/Wawrinka (7:30 AM ET, ESPN3)
Second Semifinal: Federer/Djokovic (9 AM ET, ESPN3)
Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Delhi Daredevils (10:30 AM ET)

NBA Playoffs Day 1
Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 4
Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors Game 1 (12:30 ET, ESPN, ESPN3)
Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues Game 2 (3 ET, NBC)
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers Game 1 (3:30 ET, ABC, ESPN3)
Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers Game 1 (7 ET, ESPN, ESPN3)
Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins Game 2 (7 ET, NBC Sports Network)
Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder Game 1 (9:30 ET, ESPN, ESPN3)
Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche Game 2 (9:30 ET, NBC Sports Network)

Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 2 TV Schedule

Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers Game 1 (7 ET, CNBC)
Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues Game 1 (8 ET, NBC Sports Network)
Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche Game 1 (9:30 ET, CNBC)
Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks Game 1 (10:30 ET, NBC Sports Network)

Wednesday Night Rivalry!

Indian Premier League Day 1
Match 1: Mumbai Indians vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (10:30 AM ET)

Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 1 TV Schedule
Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning Game 1 (7 ET, CNBC)
Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins Game 1 (7:30 ET, NBC Sports Network)
Dallas Stars at Anaheim Ducks Game 1 (10 ET, NBC Sports Network)

English Premier League Week 34 recap

With Chelsea's win at Swansea City by the thinnest of margins and Liverpool's enormous win over Manchester City, the top of the table is starting to clear up. Manchester City are now 7 points behind table toppers Liverpool, with Chelsea in second at 2 points behind Liverpool. Manchester City have played two fewer matches than Liverpool and Chelsea, but both Manchester City and Liverpool still have to play at Crystal Palace, who recently beat Chelsea in March. What could end up being the title match takes place on April 27 when Liverpool host Chelsea, but unlike Liverpool, Chelsea don't control their own destiny. Even if Chelsea win out, they may lose the title to Man City who are only five points behind them with two extra matches to play.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Week 15, 2014

Liverpool 2 Man City 1 (58', NBC Sports Network)

Currently:
Liverpool 74 points
Chelsea 72 points
Man City 70 points

...but Man City has played two fewer matches than either of the other two sides.

Man City also leads the league in goal difference.

Why the NHL should change its point system

A brief history

Pre-1983: All games worth 2 points. There was no overtime, and the winner of each game got both points. If a tie resulted, the teams would split the points.

'83-'84 to '98-'99: All games worth 2 points. There was a 5-minute OT now, and the winner of each game got both points. If a tie resulted at the end of overtime, the teams would split the points.

'99-'00 to '03-'04: Same rules in-game, but now an overtime loss gets one point, so some games are worth three points.

'04-'05: Work stoppage due to labor dispute.

'05-'06 onwards: In order to raise interest following the lockout season, the NHL instituted the shootout, and now all games have a winner. This guarantees that all games that are tied at the end of regulation will be three-point games.

Winner: 2 points
Regulation loser: 0 points
Overtime or shootout loser: 1 point ("the loser point")

The problem with the loser point

From 1999 to 2004, no more than 13% of the games played in a season were three-point games, but from 2005 onwards, at least 22% of the games each year have gone to overtime and thus have become three-point games. Not only does this cause an imbalance where almost a quarter of all games are counting 50% more in the standings, but also it decreases the excitement in regulation if the game is tied with little time left. Both teams are content just to pass the puck around without going on a major offensive to try to score because such an attack may leave them vulnerable defensively. Each team would still like to win the game, but is trying to guarantee itself at least 1 point in case of a loss by forcing overtime.

This becomes especially apparent in the month of April, when teams with slim playoff leads in the standings are trying to guarantee themselves at least 1 point from every game to hang on to these leads. Since 2005, 47.8% more close April games have gone to overtime than have close October games. Over the last few games of this season, expect Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Columbus games to have a greater likelihood of going into overtime as these teams are holding slim leads in various playoff seed races.

It may be argued that this problem also existed in the '99-'04 era when the three-point system was first introduced. This quite simply is not true because there was still a sense of urgency to try to win near the end of regulation because time was running out to win the game at all. Overtime was only 5 minutes long, and at the end of that the game would end without a winner, unlike now when it goes to a shootout. Because of this, teams continued to battle hard near the end of regulation, knowing that even if it did go to overtime, there wouldn't be much time to score and win. The introduction of the shootout has changed the dynamics of regular season hockey by guaranteeing a winner and thus changing strategy near the end of the game. In fact, some teams may now employ shootout specialists such as T.J. Oshie of the St. Louis Blues, for the very reason of winning in a shootout, and even in overtime may only be playing for the shootout.

Because of this, I suggest implementing the Olympic point system in the NHL. In the Olympics, all games still end with a winner, so if the NHL implemented this system it wouldn't decrease the excitement of the endgame for fans, but all games are worth three points. If the game ends in regulation, the winner gets all three points, but if it ends in overtime or a shootout, then the winner only gets two points, and the loser gets one point. This way, not only do all games count equally in the standings, but also teams have an incentive to score in regulation to get that third point. By causing a difference between winning in regulation and winning in overtime, the NHL will have done its fans a huge favor since teams will be less incentivized to hold off until overtime to guarantee a minimum of one point, as they do now. By trying to guarantee this one point for losing, there are penalized by one point if they win, since they will now only get two points rather than the three they might have earned in regulation.

GMs' thoughts

As an MIT student, I had the fortune of being able to attend the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference at the discounted student rate. It is a great event that I would suggest every sports fan go to. I had the opportunity to pose my three-point idea to two GMs, Donald Fishman of the Capitals and Brian Burke of the Flames. Fishman simply dismissed my idea because "the two-point win's been in hockey forever," but Burke gave a more detailed dismissal in which he explained that in the English Premier League, it has been shown that the proportion of matches that ended in a draw has not changed since the switch from 2 points for a win to 3 points for a win in 1981. I disagree with Burke's analogy's validity because in the English Premier League, teams are trying to earn the most points in the league to win, not place in the top 16 to make playoffs, so the incentives for earning points aren't comparable. On top of that, there is no overtime in soccer: it's simply 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, so there is no equivalent in soccer to the hockey situation of waiting until overtime to guarantee a point while still having the opportunity to gain more.

Based on these two GMs' reactions to my proposal, I think it will be quite tough to change what has been part of hockey for so long, but given that it was less than a decade ago when we made such a big change as the addition of the shootout, it may not be so far in the future that all NHL games are worth three points.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Week 14, 2014

Women's Division I Basketball National Championship Game (8:30 ET, ESPN, ESPN3)

This is the first time ever when two undefeateds have met in the men's or women's national championship game.

NCAA Division I Women's National Basketball Tournament Day 16 TV Schedule

National Semifinal: (4)Maryland (1)Notre Dame (6:30 ET, ESPN, ESPN3)
National Semifinal: (2)Stanford (1)UConn (8:30 ET, ESPN, ESPN3)

Notre Dame and UConn are both undefeated.